Got a free autometer electric full sweep oil temp guage, and if it id going to be too hard to install, i will just sell it probably. Would i have to drill a hole into the oil pan for the sending unit? Or is the sensor designed to be put in place of where the drain plug is? Thanks guys

 

I drilled a hole in the stock oil drain plug and tapped it to mount the sensor. Include a connector in the wire to the sensor, so you can disconnect it to remove the oil drain plug.

 

You could also install A Sandwich Adaptor Plate

 

that seems like a good idea. Is the stock drain plug really wide enough for the threads in the sending unit?

 

The shop that built my stroker tapped the stock plug. Its an AutoMeter gauge. I honestly don't know if they used the sensor that came with the gauge, or used something different. They had a habit of making good decisions, using the correct parts, and not telling me about it or charging me for it. I was working in Italy at the time, so I'm missing some of the details. Somewhere I have a photo. I'll see if I can find it.

 

I did exactly what Fred did when I installed my oil temp gauge. Yes the supplied sender fits within the drain plug...just make sure you drill down the center of the plug!

 

cool i guess i'll just do that and have one more guage in my car

Mine is an autometer ultra lite with sending unit, so i assume mine should fit as well. Thanks for the help guys

 

Can you mount the sender for a mechanical gauge in the plug?

 

Sure looks like it!

 

Depends on the diameter of the "bulb" that is required for a mechanical temp gauge. Its not a "sender" - its a reservoir for the fluid that fills the capillary tube back to the gauge.

 

The mechanical oil temp gauges have a large gas chamber end to operate the gauge. The ether gas inside heats up and expands, the pressure is piped through the capillary tube to actuate the gauge.

The pitfalls of such a system is for one the "sender" side is large... sometimes up to 7/8" diameter! Too big to tap into an oil drain plug. The capillary tube needs to be smooth, unkinked and routed away from other heat sources to give a reliable read. The gauge can never be separated from the capillary tube so even if it was able to be put in the drain plug... oil changes would not be fun.



The advantage is that it doesn't require any electrical wiring other then if it is equipped with a illumination lamp.

 

The reason I was asking is I have access to a mechanical temp gauge free if I can use it. Just trying to figure out the best way to mount it without dropping the oil pan.